Improvement in plow-clevises



NITED. STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLOW-CLEVISES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4,544, dated May 28, 1846.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. MEEOH, of Preston, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Method of Constructing Clevises for Agricultural Flows; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing a clevis with the arms occupying the sides ofthe plow-beam. One of these armsis about fifteen inches in length, and the other arm extends back to where the left plow-handle is fastened to the beam. To this end of the long arm a regulator is attached, by which it can be secured at any desired point.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the drawings which make a part of this specification.

I make my clevis of wrought-iron, and the end where the chain is fastened is formed similar to those in common use upon cast-iron plows, with three notches, one inch apart, for the chain-hook. The straps or arms occupy the sides of the beam. The arm upon theleft side of the beam is about fifteen inches in length. The arm upon the right side of the beam extends back as far as where the left plow-handleis secured to the beam. (See drawing, letter A.) Near the end of the short arm there is a hole one-half inch in diameter for the admission of a bolt, which goes through the beam horizontally, and a similar hole in the opposite arm of the clevis. (See drawing, letter F.) This bolt is secured by a screwthread in the clevis or a nut on the outside. Both arms of the clevis as far as the bolt are one and one-fourth inch wide and one-fourth of an inch thick,hammeredinto asquare orround form near the end of the beam and throughout the extent of the how. The long arm tapers from the bolt back to within six inches of the end, where it is three-fourths of an inch wide and onefourth of an inch thick.

The long arm of the clevis is constructed and shaped as follows, viz: It is bent at the bolt-hole at such an angle that, while that part forward of the bolt-hole lies exactly against the center of the plow-beam, that part back of the bolt at the distance of two feet is level upon its upper edge with the top of the plowbeam. (See drawing.) 7

' At the distance of two feet back of the bolthole the arm of the clevis turns up with a short curve six inches, when it again takes a horizontal position to the end. Five inches of the end of the long arm next the plow-handle is flattened, and one inch forward of where the flattening commences there is a hole onefourth of an inch in diameter for the reception of a screw or rivet for securing to it the regulator. (See drawing, letter B.) This regulator is'one inch wide and one-fourth of an inch thick, and extends below the clevis-arm fifteen inches, and is slightly curved. It runs through a square-cornered staple, which is driven into the right side of the plow-beam, directly below the rivet-hole in the long arm of the clevis. (See drawing, letter C.) The arms of this staple are three-eighths of an inch in diameter, and upon the back edge of the regulator there are six notches, each of sufficient size to slip easily over one arm of the staple, and are distributed equally throughout the length of the regulator which is below the arm. One inch and a half above the clevis-arm the regulator is bent back at nearly right angles with the lower part, so that the end of clevis-arm and this part of the regulator can be conveniently grasped together 1n one hand, it being conveniently flattened or rounded for convenience.

At the extreme end of the clevis-arm, near where the regulator is secured to it, there is a spring riveted to it in such a manner that it acts upon the regulator and throws the notches therein over the arm of the staple when opposite to it. (See drawing, letter D.)

Then the person who holds the plow wishes it to go deeper he grasps the end of the clevis arm and the handle of the regulator in one hand, and by pressing them detaches the notch from the staple. The draft of the team will instantly raise it to any point above. If he wishes to plow shallower, he grasps them in the same way and lifts up until the desired gage is attained, when he relaxes his grasp, and it is secured as before. When this clevis is used with a. wheel plow there are washers placed over the bolt, between the clevis and the beam, ofsuflicient thickness to admit of its acting with freedom, the bolt F securing the back part of the wheel-frame to the beam, while the forward half of the wheel-frame is secured to 'the cievis alone.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Making one arm of the clevis to extend back to within reach of the person who holds the plow, to which arm a regulator is attached for governing and securing the same, and thus giving any desired pitch to the plow without stopping or checking the team, using for the construction of the same the most proper, cheap, and durable material which will produce the intended efi'ect.

' CHARLES L. MEEOH.

Witnesses:

LYMAN CHASE,

HENRY HASKELL. 

